2nd InvestWrite Competition Showcases Analytical Thinking & Writing...

STUDENTS NATIONWIDE DEMONSTRATE INVESTMENT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING: 'INVESTWRITE'

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2004
Contact: Corporate Communications (202) 216-2000

NEW YORK, N.Y., March 24, 2004 – Utilizing feedback from teachers nationwide, the Foundation for Investor Education today unveiled "InvestWrite," its latest innovative teaching tool and national competition. InvestWrite fosters investment-related critical thinking and writing skills by challenging students to respond to real-world scenarios, based on experience gained by participating in one of the foundation's core educational programs, The Stock Market Game™.

Since 1977 the SMG Program has positively impacted nearly nine-million students in grades four through 12 and today reaches more than 500,000 students annually.
"Furthering the foundation's core mission, InvestWrite is a natural extension of our success with The Stock Market Game Program," said Donna C. Peterman, chairman of the foundation's board of directors and senior vice president of PNC Financial Services Group. "We are committed to responding to the needs of teachers for investment-related educational resources in the classroom."

InvestWrite builds a bridge between classroom learning and potential real-world investment decisions. Students are provided a topic and an investment scenario, which requires them to assess, research, and then formulate possible solutions based on their own findings, logic, and ideas. For example, students at the elementary grade level are challenged to describe how they would save money to purchase their first car. They must explain which car they would like to purchase, the price of that car, and how they might save for it by investing in the stock market.

Currently, participation in InvestWrite is exclusive to students participating in the SMG Program in spring 2004. Teachers can assign InvestWrite as an in-class or homework assignment. Students participate in one of three grade divisions: elementary school (grades four and five), middle school (grades six through eight), and high school (grades nine through 12). Each division has a specific topic and scenario relating to the essential principles and concepts reinforced by the SMG Program.

"Integrating subjects such as math, language arts, and economics, InvestWrite reinforces students' newfound knowledge and hones critical thinking skills," said Dr. Lisa Donnini, director of education for the SMG Program.

Teachers will review their class's submissions, select the top three, and submit them online for InvestWrite national judging. Each grade division will have seven winners in addition to first-, second-, and third-place winners. Awards for teachers and students include personal computers, scholarships, and all-expense-paid trips to Disney World and New York City. Additionally, schools and parents receive prizes in recognition for supporting their students' achievements.

The competition will be judged by foundation board members and industry and education leaders. Decisions will be based on the students' understanding of the subject matter, rationale, and writing style.

For more information, go to: www.investwrite.info. The deadline for teachers to submit their student entries is Thursday, April 15, 2004. Winners will be notified during the week of May 17, 2004, and recognized prior to the end of the school year.

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About The Stock Market Game Program The SMG Program, administered by the Foundation for Investor Education, an affiliate of the Securities Industry Association, has reached nearly nine million students in grades four through 12 since 1977. Approximately 500,000 participate annually. Students invest a virtual "$100,000" in securities, learning the importance of saving and investing. Teachers use curriculum materials designed to meet national academic performance standards.

About The Foundation The Foundation for Investor Education is a charitable, educational not-for-profit (501-c-3) organization dedicated to advocating investor education in the United States. The foundation administers two programs: The Stock Market Game Program™ (www.stockmarketgame.org), which combines a stock-trading simulation with classroom curriculum for students in grades four through 12, and the Investor Education Program, which offers the educational Web site, Path To Investing - Leading the way to financial knowledge®: (www.pathtoinvesting.org), and print materials aimed at adults of all levels of investing experience.